I'm sure that some of you knew cave explorer and Wilderness protector extraordinaire Bob Handley. From Mike Costello comes word that Bob passed away this past weekend at age 82.

Bob has been on the board of directors of WV Highlands Conservancy for several years.

Frank

----- Original Message ----- From: Cindy Rank To: WVHCBOARD@yahoogroups.com ; chey0000@hotmail.com Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2011 4:13 PM Subject: Re: Re: [WVHCBOARD] Fwd: Remembering Bob Handley, West Virginia wilderness hero

Donna LeMasters --- chey0000@hotmail.com, ... i may have her phone number in my spring review file as well --- will look for it...

Also found this link from the April 2006 (?) issue of the Voice that had Bob on front page: http://www.leaveitwild.org/news/newsletter/issue/2006-07/wilderness_hero

Cindy R. ________________________________

On Jan 19, 2011, Hugh Rogers hugh.rogers@gmail.com wrote:

Does anyone know how to get in touch with Bob's friend Donna? And recall her last name? She had let us know that Bob had moved to his brother's place when he got too weak to stay at home, but I don't have that email now.

Hugh

On 1/19/11, George Beetham Jr. geobeet@hotmail.com wrote:

In addition to his dry, wry sense of humor, I recall that when we were scouting around for a place to eat dinner in Lewisburg a couple of years ago he nixed one of the potential venues because they required a tie and jacket.

To: WVHCBOARD@yahoogroups.com CC: Johnmc ferrin@aol.com From: cdellis@wildblue.net Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2011 12:03:58 -0500 Subject: Re: [WVHCBOARD] Fwd: Remembering Bob Handley, West Virginia wilderness hero

That is too bad. I had only had a few chances to talk with him. Last time we talked he told me that his father/uncle??? was Charley Handley...of Handley Wildlife Management Area and other fame. Such a web of connection and recollection for all of us... ~Cindy Ellis

On Wed, Jan 19, 2011 at 9:54 AM, Hugh Rogers hugh.rogers@gmail.com wrote:

John: You probably have additional info about Bob Handley in your fil es---or in those articles from last year about his long-ago caving exploits. Mike's note below mourns him from the perspective of the Wilderness Coalition, more good stuff he did in more recent years that could be included in a remembrance. He was such a character. I'm going to miss him at every board meeting.

Hugh

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Mike Costello michael.costello@wvwild.org Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2011 12:06:52 -0500 Subject: Remembering Bob Handley, West Virginia wilderness hero To: Mike Costello michael.costello@wvwild.org

"The forest gives us an opportunity to connect with our ancestors and others who have loved this lan d before us." Bob Handley, 2007

It is with great sadness that we begin this week remembering dedicated activist and outdoorsman, Bob Handley, who passed away this weekend at age 82.

Bob will be remembered for many accomplishments throughout his lifetime. Some will remember him as an avid caver, who discovered numerous underground passages and became the first West Virginian to receive the National Speleological Society's prestigious Lew Bicking Award. Others will remember Bob for becoming the oldest person ever to rappel from the New River Gorge Bridge in 2006, when he accomplished the feat alongside his son, Todd, and his granddaughter, Meghan, who was then the youngest rappeller at age 14.

Those of us at the West Virginia Wilderness Coalition will remember Bob's perseverance as an advocate for protection of wild lands across the southern Monongahe la National Forest. Bob took great pride in his pursuits, and was instrumental in establishing Spice Run and Big Draft, the very first Wilderness areas in the Greenbrier River Watershed. For his service with the Wilderness Coalition, Bob was recognized as a Wilderness Hero by the Campaign for America's Wilderness in July of 2006.

In his role as a volunteer, Bob was especially proud of his efforts to persuade U.S. Representative Nick Rahall to join him on a hike through the then-proposed Big Draft Wilderness Area. Congressman Rahall accepted Bob's invitation, and Big Draft Wilderness, Bob's favorite area of the National Forest, was later included in the historic Wild Monongahela Act.

Bob was an inspiration to all of us who have worked to protect the Mon Forest, and his legacy will continue to motivate those who were fortunate enough to know him. As we carry on with our efforts, we must appreciate the impact Bob had on our lives, both personally and professionally, and we can only hope to embody his dedication to preserving our last remaining wild places.

West Virginia's forests, rivers and caves have lost a true friend, a devoted guardian who will be greatly missed.

Mike Costello Campaign Coordinator

West Virginia Wilderness Coalition office: 304-497-2836* mobile: 304.437.1082 fax: 888.671.2140

*Note new office number

--

Cynthia D. Ellis RR 1 Box 163 Red House, WV 25168 304 586-4135 cdellis@wildblue.net

"We know now, from brain science, that seeing is not a direct register of what meets our eyes but a fast mental con struction that squares sensations with memory and desire: what we believe and wish reality to be." ~Peter Schjeldahl

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